Water target



1959 D. w. THEREAU ET AL 2,874,967

WATER TARGET Filed July 29, 1957 LI'L INVENTOR.

Z DoNaLn w- THEREAU IE. BY HENRY A. NORDSTRON ga Aim United States atentO WATER TARGET Donald W. Thereau and Henry A. Nordstrom,

Minneapolis,

Application July 29, 1957, Serial No. 674,753

9 Claims. (Cl. 273--102.1)

This invention relates to a game apparatus and more specifically to asprinkling target device.

Heretofore these game apparatuses involving a target device disclosedregistering means for indicating the score of the players;

Our game apparatus comprises a target including a bulls eye member and acircular outer portion upon which is mounted a pair of circular pipesprovided with a plurality of small spaced holes, one pipe being spacedinside the other pipe with a small length pipe interconnecting the twocircular pipes. The bulls eye member being connected by linkage means toa valve member carried in a section of pipe. A garden hose is adapted tobe connected to the section of-pipe having the valve. A spring meansassociated with the linkage normally holds the bulls eye member in itsoperative position in the target. A player upon hitting the bulls eyemember actuates the valve to open position permitting water to flow fromthe garden hose to the pair of circular pipes and the water emits asspray through the small holes in the pair of spaced rings or circularpipes. When the bulls eye is again moved to its operative position, thevalve is also moved to closed position thus stopping the flow of waterto the target.

. It is an object of this invention to provide in an amusement device orgame of the target type wherein upon its bulls eye being actuated watersprays from the target.

It is another object of this invention to provide in a water target abulls eye which upon being hit by a ball will actuate a valve to permitwater to spray from the target.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide in a watertarget having a bulls eye of means for actuating a valveto open positionand the operating of the actuating means depends upon the accuracy ofthe players, in throwing a ball at the bulls eye.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a water target whichmay be either utilized as a game of skill or as a device for amusement.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accmpanying drawing forming a part hereof, wherein likenumerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a front elevational view of the water target.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the water target disclosing theactuating means for the valve.

Figure 3 is a detailed view of the rear of the bulls eye and the linkagefor actuating the valve.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, is target appropriatelymounted on an easel-like support 12. The target 10 comprises a bulls eyeplate member 14 of circular shape, which fits or covers a circularopening 13 in the center of a round shaped outer target portion 16 madeof plastic, rubber, or any other water resistant composition.

An outer circular shaped pipe 20 is appropriately se- 2,874,957 PatentedFeb. 24, 1959 cured to the outer face of the portion 16 of the targetice adjacent its outer edge. A second circular or ring shaped pipe 22 isappropriately secured to the circular shaped portion 16 of the target 10adjacent the bulls eye plate 14. A pipe section 24 is connected betweenthe circular pipes 20 and 22. Each of the circular pipes 20 and 22 isprovided with a plurality of spaced apart apertures 26.

A pipe connection 28 is connected to the circular pipe 20 through meansof a threaded opening therein. A valve 30 is mounted in the pipeconnection 28.

One end of a link 32 is connected to the rear side of the bulls eyeplate 14, and the other end of the link is connected to the stem of thevalve 30. A handle 34 is either connected to the lower portion of thelink 32 or to the stern of valve 30 for actuating the plate 14 to itsclosed or operative position in the target It). A coiled spring 36 isconnected between the handle 34 and the rear side of the portion 16 oftarget 10 loading the link 32 thus normally holding the bulls eye plate14 in its operative position over opening 13 in the target 10.

The fitting or connection 28 is open at one end and internally screwthreaded for receiving the screw threaded end of a garden hose 38 orother pipe for supplying water to the interior of the fitting 28.

Our target 10 is primarily to be used as an amusement device forchildren. When the target 10 is to be employed or used, the circularbulls eye plate 14 is positioned to cover the central opening 13 in thetarget 10. Valve 30 is in closed position, when the plate 14 covers theopening 13 in the target 10. Players toss or throw a ball from anydesired distance in front of the target 10 at the plate 14, and if theball hits the plate 14, it will be moved backward and downwardly movinglink 32 which turns valve 30 onefourth of a turn opening valve 30 andhow ing water from the hose 38 through connection 28 to the circularshaped pipes 20 and 22 which sprays water out of the spaced openings 26in the pipes 20 and 22. Children can now play in the spraying water. Thewater target 10 is an ideal amusement device for hot weather.

The valve 30 is closed by shutting olf the flow water to the target 10when the plate 14 is moved by means of handle 34 and link 32 to closethe opening 13 in the target 10.

The water target 10 may be used as a competitive game between differentplayers, or merely as an amusement device.

The hose and pipes used in this target may be made of a suitableplastic. The circular pipes 20' and 22 may be made integral with thecircular portion 16 of the target 10.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will bereadily understood. However, since numerous modifications and changeswill readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired tolimit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, andaccordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resortedto falling within the scope ofthe appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In a device of the class described comprising a target, said targetconsisting of a body portion provided with an opening, a member normallymounted to cover said opening, pipe means provided with spaced apartapertures mounted on the body portion of the target, a water supply lineconnected to the pipe means on the target, a valve mounted in the watersupply line, a link connected between the member and the valve foractuating the member to cover and uncover the opening in the body of thetarget and for actuating the valve to open and closed positions in thewater supply line, the valve being in closed position in the supply linewhen the member covers the opening in the target, the valve being movedto open position in the supply line when the memher is moved from theopening in the target thereby spraying water from the pipe means on thetarget.

2. Ina device of the class described comprising antarget, said targetconsisting of a body portion provided with an opening, a member normallymounted to cover said opening, pipe tmeans provided with spaced apartapertures mounted on the outer portion of the target, a water supplyline connected to the pipe means on the target, a valve mounted in thewater supply line, a link connected between the member and the valve foractuating the member to cover and uncover the opening in the body of thetarget and for actuating the valve to open and closed positions in thewater supply line, the valve being in cl'osedposition in the supply linewhen themem ber covers the opening in the target, the valve beingmovedto open position in the supply line when the memher is moved from theopening in the target thereby spraying water from the pipe means on thetarget andmeans mounted on the valve for moving the valve to closedposition in the supply line and for moving of the member to cover theopening in the target.

3. In a device of the class described comprising a target, said targetconsisting of a body portion provided with an opening, a member normallymounted to cover said opening, pipe means provided with spaced apartapertures mounted on the body portion of the target, a water supply lineconnected to the pipe means on the target, a valve mounted in the watersupply line, a link connected between the member and the valve foractuating the member to cover and uncover the opening in the body of thetarget and for actuating the valve to open and closed positions in thewater supply line, the valve being in closed position in the supply linewhen the member covers the opening in the target, the valve being movedto open position 'in the supply line when the' mem-- her is niove'cl"from the opening in the target thereby spraying water from the pipemeans on the target, means mounted onthe valve for moving the valve toclosed position in the supply line and .for moving the member to coverthe opening in the target, and spring means secured between the meansfor moving the valve to closed position and the body portion of thetarget for loading the link connected between the member and valve foraiding in holding the member in closed or operative position over theopening in the body of the target.

4'. In a water target comprising a member provided with a centralopening, a plate or bulls eye member nor mally closing the opening inthe target, pipe means providedwith spaced apart apertures mounted onthe target, a water supply line connected to the pipe means, valve meansin the water supply line, a link connected between the plate and valve,the valve being in closed position in the supply line when the bulls eyeplate covers the opening in the target, the valve being moved to openposition in the supply line when the plate is moved from the opening inthe target thereby spraying water from the pipe means on the target.

In a water target comprising a member provided with a central'opening,"a plate or bulls eye member normally closing the opening inthe target, pipe means provided with spaced apart apertures mounted onthe target, a water supply line connected to the pipe means, valve meansin the water supply line, a link connected between the plate and valve,the valve being in closed position in the supply line when the bulls eyeplate covers the opening in the target, the valve being moved to openposition in the supply line when the plate is moved from the opening inthe target thereby spraying Water from the pipe means on the target,means for moving the valve to closed position in the water supply lineand for moving the plate to close the opening in the targetsimultaneously and means for holding the plate in closed or operativeposition on the target.

6. In a water target comprising a circular shaped member of waterresistant material provided with a central opening, a plate for coveringthe opening in the target, pipe means mounted on the target, a watersupply line connected to the pipe means on the target, a valve mountedin the water supply line, a link connected between the plate and thevalve, the valve being in closed position in the supply line when theplate covers the opening in the target, the valvebe'ing moved toopenposition in' the supply line when the plate .is moved to uncover theopening" in the target.

7. In a water target comprising a circular shaped member of waterresistant material provided with a central opening, a plate for coveringthe opening in the target, pipe means mounted on the target, a Watersupply line connected'to the pipe means on the target, a valvemount edin the water supply line, a link connected between the plate and thevalve, the valve being in closed position in the supply line when theplate covers the opening in the target, the valve being moved to openposition in the supply line when the plate is moved to uncovertheopening in the target and means for actuating the plate to" cover theopening in the target and for actuating the valve to closed position inthe water supply line.

8. A device as set forth inclaim 7 wherein the pipe means on the targetcomprises an inner ring section and a; spaced apart outer ring sectionand a fitting connectedbetween the inner and outer ring-sections.

9. In a device of the class described'comprising a tab get, said targetconsisting of a body portion provided with an opening, a member normallymounted to cover said opening, means provided with spaced aperturesformed on the body of the target, a water supply line connected to themeans on the body of the target, a valve mounted in the water supplyline, a link connected between the member and the valve for actuatingthe memher to cover and uncover the opening in the body of the targetand for actuating the valve to open and closed positions in the watersupply line, the valve being in closed position in the supply line whenthe member covers the opening in the target, the valve being moved by'the link to open position when the member is moved from the opening inthe target thereby spraying water from the means on the body of thetarget.

Reterences Citcdin the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 691,266Hill Jan. 14, 1902 1,671,000 Weinstein May 22, 1928 2,119,641 Marx June7, .1938 2,148,438 Crain Feb. 28, 1939 2 ,628,451 Goldfarb Feb. 17,1953' 2,752,156 Washburn June 26, 1956 2,759,731 Quinn Aug. 21, 1956

